Laboring For The Lord

Transcription

1 Laboring For The Lord Tape: E- 21 E. Rome Time: 3 / 19 /03 Wed. N. Text: 1 Corinthian 15: 58 Introduction: In V. 58, we find the phrase, the work of the Lord, which is the theme of this verse. This verse talks about working for the Lord. Now, this word scares some Christians, and it bothers some Christians. It bothers them because they don t want to work for God. They are to busy working for self, and doing their own thing. I think, by the time that we get through with this verse, we will see the importance of working for the Lord. I. The Revelation Of Our Labor A. Notice The Saints That Are Mentioned V. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Question, did you notice the word brethren? Question, did you notice that he didn t say, some of you? No, he just said brethren, which includes all believers. I have always wondered why some believers feel like they are exempted from serving the Lord. Luke 10: 2 Therefore said He unto them, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few. The Lord said the laborers are few. It was then, and it is now. It is amazing, that in the average Baptist church, that 10% per cent of the congregation does all the work, the rest just comes for worship. Just imagine that if 100% of the congregation worked in some capacity, it would radically change the work of God. Well, that is the way that it is suppose to be. B. Notice The Superceding That Is Mentioned 1

2 V. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding Key word- abounding- It refers to being plentiful, and to exist in large numbers. Abound means to supercede, to go beyond. Question? How many Saints do you know that are superceding in their work for the Lord? How many Christians do you know that are laboring plentifully. Since we are working for God, we are to go beyond 100% in anything that we are doing for God. We are to do our best for God. The Revelation Of Our Labor II. The Recipient Of Our Labor A. Notice The Person That Is Inspiring V nd phrase- always abounding in the work of the Lord- We don t work for a denomination. We don t work for an organization. We don t work for man. We work for the Lord. If you do what you do for the Pastor, or for some other person, you won t be very inspired. People count it an honor to work for the Governor, or the President, but the greatest honor in the world is to work for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lord s. B. Notice The Position That Is Implied V nd phrase- always abounding in the work of the Lord Lord here means master. Master means the one that is in control of our lives. Jesus is Lord. 1 Corinthian 6: 19,20- And ye are not your own, for ye have been bought with a price. Paul said in Romans 1:1- A servant of Jesus Christ. 2

3 Servants don t do, or not do, what they want to do, they do what their master wants them to do. They work for their master. The Revelation Of Our Labor The Recipient Of Our Labor III. The Reliability Of Our Labor V. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord- We find the word steadfast and unmovable, which has reference to being reliable in the work of the Lord. Why would Paul mention being steadfast and unmovable in the work of the Lord? Just as it is in our day, some Christians start out being reliable, but then they stop being reliable in the work of God. Satan knows that God is depending on us in this world, therefore he uses many stumbling blocks to discourage, or defeat the child of God in working for God. Let us think about some tactics Satan uses. A. Satan Uses People Galatians 5: 7- Ye did run well, who did hinder you? Satan will work through people to defeat and discourage you, if you let them. B. Satan Uses Prosperity 2 Timothy 6: 10- For the love of money is the root of all evil, while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. C. Satan Uses Pleasure 2 Timothy 4: 10 For Demas hath forsaken me, loved this present world. 3

4 2 Timothy 3: 4 Traitors, heady, highmined, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. This world is like a magnet, and it wants to pull the child of God back out into the world. Satan Uses People Satan Uses Pleasure Satan Uses Prosperity D. Satan Uses Problems Galatians 6: 9 And let us not grow weary in well doing, for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not. A lot of Christians grows weary in well doing when problems come their way. They have a tendency of giving up. SATAN KNOWS OUR WEAK POINTS and he will do what ever he can to slow us down, or defeat us and cause us to quit working for God. Paul encourages us to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. The Revelation Of Our Labor The Recipient Of Our Labor The Reliability Of Our Labor IV. The Reason For Our Labor V. 58 Last phrase- forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. In other words, it is worthwhile. A. Our Laboring Is Worthwhile Now In This Present World Of course, loving the Lord is the main reason to work for God. We should love to work for him because of what he did for us. We can never repay HIM for what He done for us. However, there are other reasons worthwhile and I want to mention a few. 4

5 1. Laboring To Evangelize Sinners Is Worthwhile Nothing is more thrilling than to see some one get saved, and to know that you had a part in it. The most worthwhile thing that we can do is to leads sinners to Christ. 2. Laboring To Edify Saints Is Worthwhile 1 Thessalonians 5: 11- tells us to edify one another. Edify means to build up. We should do everything that we can to see Christians grow after they get saved. The most worthwhile thing that we can do is to work to edify the body of Christ. 3. Laboring To Exalt The Saviour Is Worthwhile Working and laboring to exalt the Saviour is one of the most worthwhile things that we can do. While the world is exalting & magnifying the Devil, the people of God should be busy exalting and magnifying the Lord. Our Laboring Is Worthwhile Now In This Present World B. Our Laboring Will Be Worthwhile When We Stand At The Judgment Seat Of Christ 1 Corinthian 4: 13- Every man s work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man s work of what sort it is, if any man s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. If we have served God for the right reason, that is, if our motive has been right, we won t stand there ashamed, and we will be glad that we worked for God and were steadfast and unmovable in the work of the Lord. 5

6 It will be worthwhile when we face our Saviour face to face, and know that we worked for Him in this present world. For those who have allowed Jesus to be Lord of their life, it will be a day of delight, but for those who did not live and work for God, it will be a day of disgrace. The Revelation Of Our Labor The Recipient Of Our Labor The Reliability Of Our Labor The Reason For Our Labor V. The Reward For Our Labor V. 58- last phrase again- forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Did you know that there will be a special crown given to those who were steadfast, and unmovable, and always abound in the work of the Lord? James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised them that love Him. This crown is given to those that endure trials, instead of those that quit serving and working for God. There will be no crown for those who were not steadfast, and those who were movable, but for those that were steadfast and unmovable in the work of God. There will be a crown of life given to them. Of course, you know what we are going to do with it don t you, we are going to cast the crown at the feet of Jesus and say, you are the only one worthy of receiving the crown, because you were unmovable and steadfast in your resolve to go to the cross and take my place and be my substitute, so I could be saved and go to heaven. The therefore which starts off V. 58 refers to the previous verses, which talks about us being victorious over death and the grave. Conclusion: Poem 6

7 Christ has no hands but our hands To do His work today He has no feet but our Feet To lead men in His Way He has no tongue but our Tongues To tell men how He Died He has no help but our Help To bring them to His Side We are the only Bible The careless world will Read We are the sinners Gospel, We are the scoffers Creed We are the Lord s last Message, Written in deed and Word What if the line is Crooked? What if the type is Blurred? What if our hands are Busy With other work than His? What If Our Feet Are Walking Where sin s allurement is? What If our tongues are speaking Of things his lips would Spurn? How can we hope to help Him Unless from Him we Learn? Jesus Christ And Me Christ is our example. He was steadfast and unmovable in His resolve to be our Saviour, by being our substitute on the cross. Therefore, we should be steadfast and unmovable in working for our Lord and count it a great privilege. Remember, our labor in not in vain. 7

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